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Review: The Girl with a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean Rating: 4/5 QOTD: What do you fear more, deep water or small spaces? The Girl with a Thousand Faces is not the book you think it’ll be, and although I had some early doubts as I worked through the first half, I was pleasantly surprised by the direction the story went in. If you’re expecting a fast-paced mystery set in claustrophobic hallways, you’ll partly get that. But this story is so much more than a contained mystery, and becomes less about solving the puzzle and more about confronting what created it. Set during World War II, we follow Mercy Chan, an exorcist with a hidden past. Having washed up on the shores of Hong Kong not knowing how she got there, Mercy makes a home for herself in the ghost-infested Kowloon Walled City, an infamous slum inhabited by lost and traumatised civilians. But when a powerful spirit comes looking for Mercy, the secrets in her past may be the key to defeating the monster that lurks in the walls. I found the introduction intriguing but my interest wasn’t fully captured until after the half way mark. The mystery at the heart of this book requires some patience to unlock, and there’s some interesting narrative choices to wrap your head around as things are slowly revealed, but it all comes together to form a really satisfying ending. There’s POV shifts as well as timeline jumps that can sometimes slow the pacing, but I promise it’s all worth it in the end. Beyond the initial mystery of the volatile spirit haunting the city, this is a story about generational trauma and inherited pain. There’s so much unresolved suffering that shapes the identities of each character, and this is perfectly presented against the backdrop of the war. Grief in this setting seems insurmountable, and the traumatic pasts of some characters are so terrible that forgiveness can seem impossible. But it becomes clear that vengeance is its own prison, one that can’t be resolved by inflicting more pain. I’d absolutely recommend this if you enjoy horror that creeps up on you, and ghost stories with bite. This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I’ll definitely be checking out more!

📚 2026 Sci-fi Books on my TBR 📚 QOTD: Which upcoming sci-fi releases are you looking forward to? There’s so many great books to look forward to this year! This list is in no way exhaustive, but does feature a lot of the upcoming releases I’m looking forward to.

🏒 Happy Off-Campus Release Day! ❤️ QOTD: Will you be watching Off-Campus? The adaptation of Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus series has landed on Prime today and I’m so excited to start it! I owe a lot to The Deal and the following books in the Off-Capus series. They got me back into reading following a big university induced slump back in 2016. I don’t read as much contemporary romance these days but I’ll always have the softest spot for the genre, because it reignited the spark and I’ve had a book in my hand ever since. I’m not sure if I’ll get to the show tonight (gotta see what trauma Fitz has in store for him in Royal Assassin) so I might save it for the weekend, but I really hope it lives up to expectations. Heated Rivalry set a very high bar but I’m going in with an open mind!

🪐 Hyperion Stack - TBB Editions 🪐 QOTD: Which TBB Hyperion cover is your favourite? Oh, don’t mind me over here still recovering from the jaw-dropping book mail I received recently. Featuring incredible artwork, the TBB editions of Hyperion Cantos are easily some of the most gorgeous books I own. From the stunning new cover art to the beautiful endpaper artwork, and everything in between, TBB really went all out with this quartet. And as if it couldn’t get any better, TBB included the original covers so you can decide how you’d like to display them. The choice feels impossible because I’m a sucker for the older covers, but I absolutely have to display the new ones too. If I had to pick a favourite cover from the set, it would be a battle between The Fall of Hyperion and The Rise of Endymion. The colours are on both out of this world… but I think The Rise of Endymion takes the win. These editions are still available in the TBB special edition store and if you use code KEEKS, it’ll let them know I helped send you their way.

🤺 Choose your fighter: Royal Assassin 🤺 QOTD: Which edition of Royal Assassin is your favourite? I’ve already done a version of this post for Assassin’s Apprentice but as I’m now reading Royal Assassin, I’ve been peeping all the cool covers out there and have once again fallen in love with all the different Farseer shelf trophies that I’ve seen on people’s shelves. At the top is the Random House paperback cover with art by Alejandro Colucci, followed by the original Voyager cover with art by John Howe in the middle. And at the bottom is the Bantam Books paperback featuring art by Michael Whelan. It’s hard to pick a fave, I really love them all. I’m stuck between the John Howe and Michael Whelan editions… but I think the John Howe cover wins this time for me.

📚 Currently reading: Assassin’s Apprentice 📚 QOTD: What are you currently reading? I’ve finally done it, I’ve finally embarked on my Realm of the Elderlings journey. I’ve been sitting on this for a while, not wanting to rush or push the urge to pick up Farseer. With a series like this, I wanted to be in the perfect mood to start - and that sweet spot arrived yesterday. I’m already approaching the half way mark and I think it’s safe to say that I’m going to love these books. The writing is incredible and I feel so close to this world and these characters, which is crazy because I’ve barely been with them for 200 pages! I never doubted the hype but it’s fun to now understand it. Much like when I first picked up Mistborn and had the entirety of the Cosmere ahead of me, I’m so excited to have this new world to fall into. And much like with the Cosmere, nothing beats having your best friend as your guide. Apologies in advance for all of the voice notes @fictionfungiflora (although I’ve no doubt you’ll actually love them.) Also had to once again show off the STUNNING @illumicrate edition of this book. I’m so excited to see what they do with Liveship Traders!

QOTD: What’s your go-to comfort series? For me, it’s Legends & Lattes. I remember reading it a few years ago and feeling pure joy as I worked through it. It was my first cosy fantasy read and, although I definitely enjoy the genre, nothing has quite come close to that first read-through. Recently, I was lucky to receive an eARC of the upcoming instalment, Tales from the Territory, and I can confirm it’s everything I hoped it would be. I’ll share my full review soon, but in the meantime, if you haven’t already, you’ve still got plenty of time to catch up as it doesn’t release until early October!

🌿 Green & Deadly Things by Jenn Lyons - TBB Edition 🌿 QOTD: Which apocalyptic setting would you choose? 🌲 Angry sentient forest 💀 An undead uprising ✨ Cosmic life-cycle reset Dark fantasy featuring necromancy and sentient nature? Say no more. I’m SO intrigued by the TBB SF&F March book and am once again grateful that this sub is introducing me to books that weren’t already on my radar. And there’s no denying that my interest soars even further when the book looks this lovely. Customisations for this signed royal hardback edition features: 🌿 New Cover Art by @michelegiorgiillustrator 🌿 Typography by @claymorecovers 🌿 Foil on Boards by @claymorecovers 🌿 Digital Fore-Edge by @claymorecovers 🌿 Block Sprayed Top & Bottom 🌿 Illustrated Endpaper by @caninebrush 🌿 Head & Tail Bands 🌿 Ribbon Bookmark Have you read this one? I’m excited to get to it!

Review: Mortedant’s Peril by RJ Barker Rating: 4.25/5 QOTD: Would you take a job that lets you hear the last thoughts of the dead? I didn’t know what to expect from Mortedant’s Peril. This was my first time reading something by R.J. Barker (though I’d heard great things about his other work) so I’m glad I finally dipped my toes in with this one. And what a book to start with! It completely exceeded my expectations. So much is packed into these pages, from intricately crafted worldbuilding to the brilliantly layered mystery. The whole story is twisty, turny excellence and it’s easy to get lost in, but that’s half the fun. In this story we follow a Mortedant, someone who attends deaths to ‘read’ a corpse, but when one routine reading pulls him into a conspiracy that could destroy the city, he’s forced into unlikely alliances to uncover the truth. I love how rich this story is. It’s so incredibly detailed, like looking at a Where’s Wally page, full of clues and red herrings that you weren’t even expecting to stumble upon. As I fell further into the story, it became clear that every detail was intentional, and even the smallest tidbit at the beginning could make big waves further down the line. Of course what makes a good murder mystery? An excellent cast of characters, and this book more than delivers. Irody is an unlikely and very reluctant hero, and pairing him with the much more heroic Whisper and survivor Mirial truly brought out the best in him. I loved how different they all are, especially across class lines, which really emphasises the city’s divisions and ties neatly into the central mystery. Which leads me into the mystery itself. I loved that although there is an antagonist, the true villain is the opportunistic elite and bureaucratic nonsense that thwarts Irody at every corner. From guild corruption to systemic inequality, there’s no wonder that turmoil has spread so deeply throughout the city. I definitely recommend this book if you love a good murder mystery. Mortedant’s Peril will keep you second guessing, and I promise you’ll love seeing everything come together in the end.

📚 Upcoming ARC Read ➡️ QOTD: Are there any ARCs on your tbr that you’re really excited to get to? I’ve got a physical arc of Green City Wars staring at me from my shelf and I’m itching to get stuck into it. It’s been a while since I’ve read an Adrian Tchaikovsky book so I’m excited to finally get back to his work. Do you have Green City Wars on your tbr? (Thank you so much @bookbreakuk for sending me this early copy!) Release date: 25th June 2026 Blurb: In a city of sunshine and secrets, the shadows belong to the animals. In a solar-powered future, humans live in luxury, served by unseen Little Helpers – artificially enhanced animals who maintain their perfect green cities. The animals’ number one rule: ‘do not bother the humans’. Yet, beneath this tranquil facade, a complex underworld of animal politics, crime and conflict thrives. Enter Skotch, a freelance raccoon investigator. Until now, his biggest problem has been a lack of work. Now, his work may get him killed. His latest case? Finding a fugitive mouse scientist. But powerful forces are also after Doctor Meece, and they’re willing to kill for his secrets. Can Skotch navigate this treacherous web, outsmart rat gangsters, beat a deadly weasel assassin and keep his pelt intact? More importantly, can he find his quarry before the elusive rodent breaks Rule One in the most apocalyptic way – and shatters their fragile world.

QOTD: Who else has fallen down the Emma M. Lion rabbit hole? This series has been popping up on my feed recently and I finally caved this week and picked up volume one. I’m obsessed. I’ve been listening to the audiobooks and have fallen in love with St. Crispian’s and the people that live there. I’m now onto volume three and have been having the best time. If you enjoy historical epistolary narratives then this is definitely a series to check out.

📚 Books that will make you fear technology 📚 QOTD: What book/movie/tv show has given you a healthy fear of technology? Considering the world we live in, I think we’re past needing books to instil some fear into us over the everchanging technological landscape. In fact, some books are starting to read more like guidebooks rather than cautionary tales, so it’s no wonder that we’re drawn to these stories. Here’s six book recs that reminded me that tech is pretty scary, and another three books that fit this theme that are on my tbr.